Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Omar Hameed Khan has directed special focus on security, ensuring the installation of CCTV cameras and increase in the number of security personnel during re-polling in sensitive polling stations of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).
He issued these directives while addressing a meeting regarding re-polling in parts of K-P scheduled on February 13, at the Chief Secretary office.
Chief Secretary Dr Shehzad Khan Bangash, Additional Inspector General (AIGP) Usman, Secretary Establishment Arif Shahbaz, Secretary Home Khushal Khan, Secretary Local Government Shakeel Khan and security forces representatives attended the meeting.
Deputy Commandant Frontier Constabulary (FC) Captain (Retd) Abdul Saeed, Provincial Election Commissioner K-P Mohammad Raziq, Director General (EG) ECP Sharifullah, Joint Secretary PEC Mohammad Farid Afridi, Director Local Govt Zulfikar Ahmad and others attended the meeting.
The Secretary Election Commission said that according to Article 220 of the constitution, the administration is bound to assist the ECP in holding free and transparent polls.
Therefore, he said, besides provision of guidance to the general public, voters, candidates and political parties, the provision of equal opportunities for participation in the electoral process should also be guaranteed.
He further said that during the first phase of local government elections some unpleasant incidents also occurred in polling stations of various districts that resulted in the suspension of the polling.
He said that now in those 12 districts including Peshawar, Nowshera, Khyber, Mohmand, Mardan, Kohat, Karrak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, DI Khan, Buner and Bajaur re-polling is being scheduled in 237 polling stations on February 13.These polling stations are collectively included 331 polling stations of Charsadda, Mardan, Kohat, Lakki Marwat, DI Khan and Bajaur.
He called for implementation of the directives of the ECP in this regard in letter and spirit to ensure re-polling in these polling stations in a peaceful environment.
The Secretary ECP also directed for making arrangements for the allocation of the election staff, particularly women staffers, distribution of polling material, provision of transportation and security arrangements. He said that if required they will also obtain the services of Pak Army and Frontier Corps.
Similarly, he also directed sufficient security arrangements in the offices of the District Returning Officers (DROs) and Returning Officers (ROs) during preparation of results.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 11th, 2022.
1732745394-0/Diddy-(4)1732745394-0-165x106.webp "article")
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ